The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-29
A MEXICAN TRAGEDY.
Attempted Assassination of a Bishop
at the Altar.

Attempted Assassination of a Bishop
at the Altar.
dispatch from Cincinnati to the New
York Herald says: The attempted assas-
Sination of Bishop Jose Maria Cazares by
Father Pablo Roias at the cathedral in the
| city of Morella, capital of the State of Mich.
oacan, Mexico, on Corpus Christi Day, will
| fortunately not terminate fatally, as the
| physicians now pronounce the prelate out
of danger.
A correspondent gives the following
| graphic story of the tragedy and his inter-
view with the would-be murderer:
STABBED AT THE ALTAR
On Thursday morning at 10 o'clock the
cathedral was crowded to the utmost.
Bishop Cazares was officiating. The sermon
and mass were heard with great attention
by the audience When the mass was over
and Bishop Cazares was taking off his orna-
ments, a clergyman, who stood during the
services, near the altar, made his way to the
altar through a crowd of ladies, who thought
him the next priest to perform services He
calmly assembled the few steps leading to the
altar. The Bishop heard the noise of some
one coming and, thinking it to be faithful
believer soliciting the grace Of kissing the
symbolic ring, extended his hand without
bUNdIu MN. Az bulS ulONtIntHu
the assassin seemed to hesitate moment,
then drawing from under his cloak a long
knife raised his arm. The weapon flashed
above the head Of the prelate, and an indie
scribable murmur of horror was heard
through the temple; then a blow, and the
cry of young Julio Cortes, the Bishops as
sistant who interposed his arm between the
Bishop and the assassin, the knife passing
through his arm before entering the Bish-
ops body.
EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN CHURCH.
As the Bishop fell the panic in the congre-
cation turned to rage, but when with knife
in hand the assassin began to strike left and
right, the tumult was horrible. The cries of
the ladies and children mingling with the
falling of candles and the breaking of win
dow glass were indescribable. Senior Anto-
MO Reynose, Alderman of the city, with his
cane struck the assassin on the lett side of
his head, causing the blood to flow over his
face, giving him most repugnant appear
ance He succeeded, however, in getting
out of the cathedral.
Two policemen, Francisco MILAN and
Miguel Arevalo. ON the opposite corner, at
the sight of the man full of blood, with a
long knife, pulled their pistols, but the priest
did not heed them MILAN, as he passed
ahead, ran after him and embraced HIM
Will an MS oplCuksbL. lhC pioi ny man lciu
himself conquered and threw away the
pionard.
THE NUMEROUS PRIEST INSANE.
The correspondent says: cone hour after
Roias was locked up went to see him.
entered the prison accompanied by an
officer We passed a narrow, dark and
dirty corridor, at the end of which was his
cell The officer opened the door, and in a
corner saw a human form moving toward
us, who stopped on seeing the rays of light
which penetrated through a small window
just above us. The light permitted me to
formed, quite aged, and with hair almost
white He looked pale, but all the time
was talking TO him he was perfectly calm.
''He said: Excuse me if do not shake
hands, but my hands are all stained with
blood
"'Indeed, his hands were all red.
PLEASE tell me your name asked
"'Pablo Rojas,' he answered.
"'How old are youP
'Sixty-five years old.
" Are you the man that tried to kill
Bishop CazaresP
eyes, sir, he said; Il could not help it;
had TO do justice with my own hands. l
was blinded; have so many enemies;
fight for freedom All why not2 Even
an ass fights for his liberty For this they
pursue me Freedom comes to us by Divine
right. 1t comes to us from the Almighty,
who is the most free Of all beings.
"Bishop Cazares is a well known and ad-
mired priest who has but recently returned
from special mission TO Rome as the rep
resentative of Archbishop Monies dc Oca,
of the City of Mexico"